Writer In Residence

Inside the Writer’s Head: March 6

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Imagination, Writing .

I’ve been prepping for the first Writer-in-Residence workshop this week, an experience which has been truly eye-opening. I am a self-taught writer, in a sense. My degrees are in English Lit and in Composition-Rhetoric, both of which are about words but neither of which center on writing as a craft. I’ve taken a few creative writing classes and I certainly learned how do graduate-level research (thank you, Miami University!) but I’ve never, let’s say, been through an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program where you learn on a high level HOW.TO.WRITE. Mostly, I’ve learned

Inside the Writer’s Head Post, Season 3: Episode 1

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Podcast, Writing .

In the first episode of Season 3 of Inside the Writer’s Head, the new Writer-in-Residence Emma Carlson Berne sits down to talk with Linda Leopold Strauss. Strauss authors children’s picture books, and talks about the unique writing and approval process for creating engaging illustrated stories for kids. She talks about the joys and challenges of working closely with another artist, an illustrator, to create a picture book. Strauss shares how her background has influenced her career, and how she uses it to enhance her storytelling for kids. The two authors also discuss their highest

Hive mind – are you out there?

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Writing .

Hive mind – are you out there? Folks, this is an interactive blog post, so wake up. On March 24, I’ll be presenting my first writer-in-residence workshop at the Main Library, from 1-4 pm. Obviously, everyone should come. But before you do – talk to me. I want to know—here in the comments section, or on Facebook at Emma Carlson Berne Books what you would like to hear about. The goal of the workshop is to talk about what happens before the manuscript: getting the idea, conceiving of characters, doing research, outlining or not—everything that

Inside the Writer’s Head: Emma and Kurt in Conversation

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Kurt Dinan, Writing, Young Adult fiction .

I just this minute finished reading the first two chapters of Kurt Dinan’s second novel, WANNA BET? which he’s currently revising, and hopes to have to his agent in February. WATCH OUT, WORLD. IT IS SO GOOD. I realize I’m not exactly providing a Kirkus-level review here. Funny—so funny, real, poignant (though I kind of hate that word). You already love Boone by the end of page one. Kurt! You’ve produced brilliance! And a good thing too, because this is Kurt’s official sign-off. With this blog post, he’s fulfilling the last requirement of his

Inside the Writer’s Head: January 22, 2018

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Writing .

So, first of all Kurt had the flu. Way to go, Kurt! Kurt Dinan and I were supposed to have an event together on Saturday, January 20. We were going to have all kinds of fun and ask each other snarky questions and he was going to read from his mind-blowing, brand-new second novel. But at the last minute, he thought he’d weasel out of this by getting the flu. Nice one, Kurt. We see right through you. You really think a 104 degree fever is a reason not to go to our event?

Inside the Writers Head: Emma Carlson Berne

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Emma Carlson Berne, Writing .

Emma Carlson Berne at Books by the Banks

To be perfectly honest, I was supposed to write my first blog post yesterday. But yesterday, some of you may know, was a snow day. It was a snow day. School was cancelled. On the first day back after winter break. A seventeen-day long winter break. During which time I and my three small children – ages 9, 5 and 2 ½ – experienced so much togetherness. Children are a blessing. Children are a blessing. Say it fifty times, then make them eat cold toast for breakfast while you rage around the house, sweeping

Inside the Writer’s Head Podcast, Season 2: Episode 11

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Kurt Dinan, Podcast, Writing .

In this episode, Kurt sits down with our 2018 Writer-in-Residence Emma Carlson-Berne! She has written and published more than 150 books, including Young Adult thrillers, sports fiction, and children’s books. Berne has written several of the American Girl Doll books and some Star Wars books, too. She talks about being a “writer-for-hire” and what it’s like writing stories that publishing companies ask for. Berne gives insight on how to be an adaptable writer and being able to write with different voices. She also dives in to what she wants to accomplish as the 2018

Inside the Writer’s Head Podcast, Season 2: Episode 10

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Kurt Dinan, Podcast, Writing .

In this episode of Inside the Writer’s Head, Kurt talks with Jim Spaeth. Spaeth is the author of the memoir “Up, Up and Astray” which tells of his adventures in the airline industry during 4 decades of travelling the world. Spaeth worked for an airline during the “Golden Age of Air Travel” in the 1960s and 1970s. He didn’t publish this book, his first one, until he was 77 years old! Spaeth talks about writing a memoir, how he remembered all the stories he told, and gives some self-publishing tips. He also reminisces on

Inside the Writer’s Head Podcast, Season 2: Episode 9

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Podcast, Writing .

In this episode, Kurt speaks with Young Adult author Natalie Richards. Richards is the author of “Six Months Later” and “One Was Lost.” They talk about what it means to be a “good” writer and how many books Natalie actually wrote before one was good enough to be published (a lot). Natalie also talks about thinking like a writer and how what you’re reading can impact what you write. She discusses her writing process and how it’s a little different than what some might expect. There’s even a little discussion about why writing Buffy

Inside the Writer’s Head Podcast, Season 2: Episode 8

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Sandy Bolek Posted in Horror, Kurt Dinan, Podcast, Writing .

In this episode of Inside the Writer’s Head, Writer-in-Residence Kurt Dinan speaks with Paul Tremblay about his novels and experience as a writer. Tremblay is an author and editor of contemporary horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction. He has written “A Head Full of Ghosts” and “Disappearance at Devil’s Rock.” The podcast focuses on writing, reading, and creativity, and this time: horror. Kurt and Paul discuss writing for the horror fiction genre and its challenges and stigmas. Paul also talks about his personal experience writing scary and suspenseful stories, and what it feels like to

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